Bullet mold stand



March 31, 1964 B. J. GALLOWAY BULLET MOLD STAND Filed July 5, 1961 INVENTOR.

BE'NJAMI N 3'. GALLOWAY ATTORNE-VS United States Patent Oflfice 3,126,594 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,126,594 BULLET MOLD TAND Benjamin James Galloway, Rte. 2, Baldwin Lake, Pleasant Hill, Mo. Filed July 5, W61, Ser. No. 122,004 2 Claims. (El. 22-99) This invention relates to a bullet mold stand and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains to supporting means for bullet-forming molds or dies.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a stand for supporting cooperating halves of a bullet mold die, the construction and assembly of the component elements thereof being such as to permit the opening and closing of the mold by one hand of the operator, thereby leaving the other hand free to hold and manipulate a ladle containing molten lead.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bullet mold stand which, when secured to a bench or other type of conventional support, occupies but little bench area.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bullet mold stand which, when taken in conjunction with the bullet molds, is capable of producing perfect bullets or projectiles at a rate much faster than is now possible with the conventional bullet molds constructed in accordance with the prior art.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a bullet mold stand for bullet molds, the stand being non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bullet mold stand constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, FIGURE 1 showing the stand as being secured to a supporting base and having bullet molds supported thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stand as shown in FIGURE 1, parts thereof being broken away for the purpose of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the bullet mold stand and mold; and

FIGURE 4 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral designates, in general, a bullet mold stand constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention. The stand 10 is seen to include an angle iron member 12 having an elongated substantially rectangular base 14 and an upright, substantially rectangular flange 16 projecting laterally from one longitudinally-extending marginal edge thereof. The base 14 is formed with a plurality of apertures 18 to receive screws or bolts 20 therethrough to secure the base 14 rigidly to a bench or other supporting member 22.

Reference numeral 24 denotes an upright substantially cylindrical standard disposed adjacent an outer corner of the base 14 proximate one end thereof, the standard being secured thereon by means of a countersunk screw 26. The upper end of the standard receives therein the lower end of a pivot pin 28 which terminates in an enlarged head 30 at its upper end.

One end of an elongated handle 32 is pivotally supported on the pin 28, and a washer 34 is interposed between the handle 32 and the adjacent end of the standard 24. Projecting longitudinally from the aforesaid one end of the handle 32 is an L-shaped lever 36 having a leg portion 38 and a foot portion 40. As is seen in the drawing, the leg portion 38 is fixedly secured to said one end of the handle 32, and the foot portion 40 extends vertically upwardly.

Reference numerals 42, 44 designate a pair of substantially rectangular opposed bullet-forming dies or moldcarrying heads, the mold heads each being provided with opposed bullet-forming cavities 46, 48, respectively, on adjacent sides thereof, the cavities opening at their upper ends into the plane of the upper ends of the mold-carrying heads, this plane being common to each of the moldcarrying heads.

The mold-carrying head 42 is formed with a longitudinally-extending channel-shaped recess 50 in the outer side thereof to receive the other end of the handle 32, and screw means 52 extends upwardly from the lower end of the mold-carrying head 42 and through the handle 32 to secure one to the other. The outer end of the mold-carrying head 42 is also provided, adjacent its upper end, and at the outer corner thereof, with a set screw 54 which projects above the aforementioned plane to serve a function to be described.

The flange 16, adjacent the upper end thereof, is formed with a laterally-projecting rib 56 which extends longitudinally of the flange and in overhanging relation relative to the base 14. As is seen in the drawing, reference being made in particular to FIGURES 1 and 4, the moldcarrying head 44 is formed with a longitudinally-extending channel-shaped recess 58 in the outer side thereof to receive the rib 56 therein. The mold-carrying head 44 is secured to the rib 56 by means of a screw 60 which is threaded upwardly from the bottom end of the moldcarrying head 44 and through the rib 56, the arrangement being such that the outer side of the mold carrying-head 44 abuts against the adjacent side of the flange 16.

Reference numeral 62 designates, in general, a substantially rectangular cut-off plate which is pivotally connected at 64 to the mold-carrying head 44 at the upper end thereof and adjacent its outer forward corner. The cut-off plate 62 is provided, substantially centrally thereof, with an inverted frusto-conical funnel 66 which extends transversely therethrough. The cut-oft plate 62 is provided with a laterally-projecting lug 68 which is connected by means of the screw 70 in a recessed portion 72 formed at the inner end of an elongated substantially flat rectangular lever 74. If desired, the other end of the lever 74 may be looped to provide a finger-grasping element 76 which facilitates the operation of the lever 74 and its connected cut-oif plate 62.

It should be noted, at this point, that the plane of the underside of the cut-off plate is substantially coincident with the aforementioned plane common to the tops or upper ends of each of the mold-carrying heads 42, 44.

Reference numeral 7% denotes, in general, a scraper wire for the cut-off plate 62. It is seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawing that one end of the wire 78 terminates in an eye 89 through which extends a screw 82, that is, in turn, threaded into the flange 16. The Wire 78 is offset with respect to the adjacent outer side of the flange 16 to provide a substantially vertically-extending shanlc which extends upwardly beyond the upper side of the cut-oif plate 62. The shank 84 is then bent inwardly toward the cutoff plate 62, as at 86, and the other end thereof is then bent downwardly to form an arm 88 having a beveled end or scraper blade 90. As is seen in the several figures of the drawing, the beveled end 90 or the scraper blade slidably engages the upper side of the cut-off plate 62 and, to serve a purpose to be described, the scraper blade 9th is disposed in the pivotal path of movement of the funnel 66.

To further assist the operation in molding the bullets or projectiles, a helicoidal spring 94 under tension has one of its ends connected with an end of the flange l6 and the other end connected to the handle 32 between the mold-carrying block 42 and the standard 24. Thus, the mold-carrying block 42 is constantly biased to move in such manner as to close against the mold-carrying block 44.

To serve a function to be described, it will be observedthat the foot portion 40 of the lever 36 is disposed in the pivotal path of movement of the lever 74.

The mold-carrying heads 42, 44 are of conventional construction, as is the cut-off plate 62, and as such, form no part of this invention.

Having described in detail the component elements of this invention, the operation thereof is deemed to be selfevident. However, in the interest of clarity, a brief description of the mode of operation is set forth below.

Assruning that the mold-carrying heads 42, 44 are closed against one another, in the manner shown in full lines of FIGURE 3, and that the cut-off plate 62 has been moved into engagement with the abutment pin 54 whereby the funnel 66 is positioned over the opening into the cavities 46, 48, molten lead is now poured into the funnel 66 to completely fill the cavities 46, 48. During this operation a small amount of the metal will, at the termination of the filling operation, accumulate above the funnel 66. The tension of the spring 94 is sufficient, in most cases, to hold the mold-carrying blocks 42, 44 in their closed full-line positions, thereby leaving the operator with one hand entirely free. If the tension of the spring 94 is not suflicient to hold the mold-carrying heads 42, 44 in their respective closed positions, then, of course, the operator need but grasp the foot portion 40 of the lever 36 and force the same clockwise, reference being made to FIGURE 3, to prevent separation of the moldcarrying head 42 from the mold-carrying head 44.

Assuming now that the pouring operation has been completed, and that the lead has solidified, the operator grasps the looped end 76 of the lever 74 and turns the same in a counterclockwise direction, again reference being made to FIGURE 3. As this pivotal movement takes place, the cut-off plate 62 shears off the excessive lead in the aforementioned common plane, and in so moving, causes the excess metal 92 to engage against the beveled end 90 of the arm 88, whereby the excessive metal 92 is pushed or picked out of the funnel 66.

As this pivotal movement of the lever 74 continues, the same will engage against the foot portion 40 of the lever 36, causing the handle 32, and consequently, the moldcarrying head 42 to pivot on the standard 24 in a counterclockwise direction. In so moving, the lever 74, the cutoff plate 62, the mold-carrying head 42, its handle 32, and lever 36 will be pivoted to the dotted-line positions shown in FIGURE 3. The mold-carrying heads are thus separated and the bullet so formed in the cavities 46, 48 easily drops out, or may be manually removed therefrom.

The release of the lever 74 causes the foot portion 40 of the lever 36 to push against the lever 74 under the tension of the spring 94. The spring 94 returns the moldcarrying head 42 to its closed position against the moldcarrying head 44 and the inertia imparted to the lever 74, when the two mold-carrying heads have closed, is generally sufficient to swing the plate 62 into engagement with the stop pin 54, and the mold is ready for refilling. In the event the inertia is not suflicient, the operator may continue the movement of the lever 74 from the dottedline position shown in FIGURE 3 toward its full-line position, manually.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pair of substantially rectangular mold-carrying heads each having normally juxtaposed complementing bullet-forming cavities formed therein and opening in adjacent ends thereof, said adjacent ends being disposed in a common plane, a substantially flat rectangular cut-off plate pivotally mounted on said end of one of said mold-carrying heads, said cut-off plate having that side thereof disposed adjacent said moldcarrying heads disposed coincident with respect to said common plane, said cut-off plate having a funnel opening extending transversely therethrough normally aligned with said opening into said cavities, said mold-carrying heads each having elongated recesses formed in the remotely-disposed sides thereof, and a bullet mold stand for said mold-carrying heads; said stand comprising an angle member having an elongated substantially rectangular base and an elongated substantially rectangular flange projecting laterally therefrom along a longitudinally-extending marginal edge thereof, said flange having a laterally-projecting rib extending from a side thereof and overhanging said base, said rib being adapted to be received within said recess formed in said one of said moldcarrying heads, means for securing said one of said moldcarrying heads to said rib, a standard mounted on said base and projecting laterally therefrom, a handle having one end thereof pivotally connected on said standard, said handle being disposed within said recess formed in the other of said mold-carrying heads, means releasably securing said last-named mold-carrying head with said handle, resilient means extending between and connected with one end of said flange and said handle intermediate the ends of the latter, said resilient means constantly biasing said handle for pivotal movement in the direction of said one of said mold-carrying heads, an elongated substantially L-shaped lever having an end of the leg portion thereof fixedly secured to said one end of said handle and the foot portion thereof projecting vertically upwardly, and an elongated lever having an end thereof fixedly secured to said cut-off plate and projecting in the path of movement of said foot portion, said last-named lever being operable to engage against said foot portion as said out-off plate is pivoted to move said funnel away from said opening and to cause the other of said mold-carrying geads to pivot away from said one of said mold-carrying eads.

2. In the combination recited in claim 1, and means fixedly secured to said flange and extending over said cutoff plate to remove solidified metal from said funnel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,304 Oldharn June 2, 1885 1,416,476 Kraland May 16, 1922 1,640,107 Boyle Aug. 23, 1927 1,763,977 McNeely June 17, 1930 2,302,269 Simonds Nov. 17, 194-2 2,316,298 Strunk Apr. 13, 1943 2,515,915 Voigt July 18, 1950 2,713,184 Garabedian July 10, 1955 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR MOLD-CARRYING HEADS EACH HAVING NORMALLY JUXTAPOSED COMPLEMENTING BULLET-FORMING CAVITIES FORMED THEREIN AND OPENING IN ADJACENT ENDS THEREOF, SAID ADJACENT ENDS BEING DISPOSED IN A COMMON PLANE, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RECTANGULAR CUT-OFF PLATE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID END OF ONE OF SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS, SAID CUT-OFF PLATE HAVING THAT SIDE THEREOF DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID MOLDCARRYING HEADS DISPOSED COINCIDENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID COMMON PLANE, SAID CUT-OFF PLATE HAVING A FUNNEL OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH NORMALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING INTO SAID CAVITIES, SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS EACH HAVING ELONGATED RECESSES FORMED IN THE REMOTELY-DISPOSED SIDES THEREOF, AND A BULLET MOLD STAND FOR SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS; SAID STAND COMPRISING AN ANGLE MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BASE AND AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FLANGE PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM ALONG A LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF, SAID FLANGE HAVING A LATERALLY-PROJECTING RIB EXTENDING FROM A SIDE THEREOF AND OVERHANGING SAID BASE, SAID RIB BEING ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID RECESS FORMED IN SAID ONE OF SAID MOLDCARRYING HEADS, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID ONE OF SAID MOLDCARRYING HEADS TO SAID RIB, A STANDARD MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM, A HANDLE HAVING ONE END THEREOF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ON SAID STANDARD, SAID HANDLE BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESS FORMED IN THE OTHER OF SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS, MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID LAST-NAMED MOLD-CARRYING HEAD WITH SAID HANDLE, RESILIENT MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTED WITH ONE END OF SAID FLANGE AND SAID HANDLE INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE LATTER, SAID RESILIENT MEANS CONSTANTLY BIASING SAID HANDLE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID ONE OF SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED LEVER HAVING AN END OF THE LEG PORTION THEREOF FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID ONE END OF SAID HANDLE AND THE FOOT PORTION THEREOF PROJECTING VERTICALLY UPWARDLY, AND AN ELONGATED LEVER HAVING AN END THEREOF FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID CUT-OFF PLATE AND PROJECTING IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FOOT PORTION, SAID LAST-NAMED LEVER BEING OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AGAINST SAID FOOT PORTION AS SAID CUT-OFF PLATE IS PIVOTED TO MOVE SAID FUNNEL AWAY FROM SAID OPENING AND TO CAUSE THE OTHER OF SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS TO PIVOT AWAY FROM SAID ONE OF SAID MOLD-CARRYING HEADS. 